Ralphie tried to save me from myself by attacking the loaf of wheat bread for the stuffing, but I caught it before it was destroyed. I may have roasted the hen upside-down… maybe. All in all, though, it turned out really well. Just ate about half of this (all the hen, not quite half the cranberry sauce) for first dinner. Finishing it in a few hours for second dinner. 😉

Had a really nice weekend with friends this past weekend. Another one ahead. December, funnily enough, will be much quieter than November was. Hopefully, it’ll help me keep up the energy I need to get a job nailed down. A lot of applications to send out there. Still optimistic.

Taking a break from Dresden Files until I can get the Marsters narrated Ghost Stories. (I tried, I just couldn’t do it with Glover.) So, I picked up Neil Patrick Harris’s Choose Your Own Autobiography audiobook from the library. They had to change it up a bit for the audiobook, but it’s just as entertaining as I expected. Going to take a look for Carey Elwes’ As You Wish, too at some point. It wasn’t at Bexley, when I was, at least.

For those in my reading audience that don’t know. This blog is my weekly “call home” in the digital world. Growing up, my grandmother would call us every Sunday at 4pm, to check up on the family. I don’t like telephones, never have – it wasn’t a good sound growing up – calls in the middle of the night with bad news happen more often when your parents are ministers of aging rural churches. An unexpected ringing phone still sets my heart racing.

So I type.

Spent last weekend cuddling with the puppy and watching tv – some digital broadcast, some Hulu, and some Sling TV. It was fun, I only have Netflix at home. Also did some random cooking. Hash Browns and Banana Fritters from scratch:

Even made two of the fritters into a S’more, for fun.

This week has been spent applying for jobs, doing a practice interview with a friend, pondering a professional haircut and preparing for the weekend. Tomorrow, I am volunteering at the ALAO conference in town, helping out the AV guy to make sure that all the presenters have what they need. Then I have events with friends all weekend. It is that time of year.

I don’t usually do this here, but I feel moved to it today, in light of everything.
A friend railed against religion in the wake of recent tragedies. But it’s not about religion. It’s about hate and fear. Suicide bombers and gunman. IEDs and snipers. Supposed “jihadists” use religion as a mask, an excuse. Those attacked blame the entire religion – religions that espouse Love and Kindness. These people aren’t following their religions, they are acting out of hate and fear. (Yes, this is an oversimplification, but so is blaming religion.)

There are those that say we don’t need religion. That good people are good people. That if you need a higher power threatening to punish you in order to be good, you aren’t really a good person. That you shouldn’t need a God to tell you to be kind and love one another. I don’t think that’s what religion is really about. I think religion is about believing in something bigger than yourself.

Some say that it is a small mind that needs God in order to understand the universe. Others say, with all that is out there in the universe, how can there not be a Creator? I think, as human beings, we look for order and reason. It isn’t about needing an explanation, it’s about believing there is one. And that it is beyond our understanding.

Religion is about hope and love, and these are more powerful than hate and fear.

First week of down time. Weather has figured out that it’s November – no snow down here yet, but chilly and cloudy. Wind is picking up like crazy today.

Apartment is cleaned, dishes and laundry done. I’m good at cleaning when I should be doing other things. 😉 But I’ve also found a few more really good opportunities to apply to. Things are looking very hopeful.

Spent Saturday at BAD OGRE gaming with the Denison Gaming Guild. Played 5th ed D&D, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and two games of Werewolf. It was a great time. Love my alma mater.

Went back yesterday, too. Visiting Fred and checked out the new Library Archives, which they’ve moved to the basement. It’s a really great space, natural light, better shelving in the back room. Really nice place.

Halloween weekend went really well. All the things went smoothly and were lots of fun. And I didn’t eat ridiculous amounts of candy. Nor did I buy ridiculous amounts of candy. Good job, me.

This week’s CSA cooking pic, butterkin squash:

November now, conventions and holidays galore. This weekend: Stuff with friends, and maybe a BAD OGRE drop by. Pondering the D&D game and the VtM game, but it requires me to get up and over the Granville by noon on Saturday. I might just sleep. But as I’m not planning on going out on Friday, it IS possible.